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Advice about stairgates please

4 replies

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 01/08/2021 12:38

In my house the stairs are between two solid walls (no open sides or balustrades). I want to get stairgates for top and bottom for when people with babies/toddlers come to stay, but not for them to be fitted the whole time.

Can anyone advise me on the safest options? I have an expanding one that will work fine at the foot of the stairs but need to get one for the top and am a bit worried about how to fit it.

The expanding ones all seem to have a bar at the bottom and I'm concerned that someone could trip in the bar - if I put it on step 2 that stops the trip problem but then probably won't fit under the bannister, plus a tumbling child might just knock it out of the way.

Would one of the mesh ones that retracts be appropriate for the top of the stairs? It would be a deterrent I suppose but would a determined kid just barrel through?

I don't have kids of my own, which is probably why I'm overthinking. I really want to make it safe. The people who are coming to stay won't be able to carry that much on the train and I've offered to sort out the stairgates as I hope they'll come often.

What is the best top-of-narrow-stairs option please?

Thank you!

OP posts:
LunchWithAGruffalo · 01/08/2021 13:04

For just a short time I'd go with one of the mesh ones. Ours fits just as tightly as the metal one. Its s bit more faff to get through, you take it out rather than open it, but it stays set to size and just clips back in. Ours is a lindham one.

You could probably just get one, have it at the bottom during the day, move it up when the child goes yo bed. That's what we did when visiting grandparents.

If you're worried about a pressure fit gate at the top of the stairs, could it go on the bedroom doorway instead?

We have a lindham one.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 01/08/2021 17:56

That's a good idea - I hadn't thought of putting in the bedroom doorway, or of moving it around. You are a genius!

OP posts:
Starjammer · 01/08/2021 18:01

Some of the ones for the top of stairs come with an attachment to cover the bar so it's not a trip hazard. Ours has a kind of sloped cover on it so it's not possible to trip on it.

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GenevieveLenard · 02/08/2021 08:27

We have one that completely unclips when not needed, so only the hinges and catches are left on display. Can’t think of the brand just now

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